Now We Are Off On Our Hols
We have been planning this for a while but it now seems like it is going to happen. Now that we have booked the channel crossing and the motel for our first nights stop.
So there we are. We have booked the gite, motel and shuttle time slot. I have even bought the little headlight converters required when you take a UK configured car over into la belle France.
Actually the amount of stuff you have to take with you in the car to meet the French motoring regs is growing year on year. When I first went you just needed a warning triangle and a first aid kit. Oh and you had to put deflecter strips on the headlights and paint them a delicate yellow-orange. Nowadays you must have the first aid kit, warning triangle, spare bulb set, reflective jackets (must be in reach without having to get out of the car), headlight conversion (don’t need yellowing). And from next month it will be law for you to carry a breathalyser. Nobody says you have to use it I suppose.
So where are we going ? We are off to Barbezieres which is a commune in the Charente department in southwestern France. From the link you can see that it has a huge population, 123 back in 2008, that is slap bang in the middle of nowhere. Hopefully this will be the perfect place to destress.
Leastways that is what my wife is hoping for. No phones, no internet etc. etc. etc.
Good news, the gite is situated right in the Cognac region. Plenty of distilleries to visit and of course sample. Just what I need. Not forgetting, hopefully, plenty of photo opportunities.
Dare I say it…… Watch this space ;0)
HMS Diamond Jubilee Salute
I thought I’d just share this with you. Our local paper, The News, has published two articles and in both the writer states that there were two Typhoons in the fly past. Well watch this clip and count them for your self.
The News has had me doubting my own ears and eyesight.
Diamond Days
Earlier today I was one of the many,waiting for HMS Diamond to kick off the Jubilee weekend. I joined the crowds all along the “hot walls” although I was stood on the beach. They may be called the “hot walls” but the weather had other ideas, being rather overcast. Nevertheless, there were quite a few folks down to watch and listen to HMS Diamond give and receive the salute. Meridian TV had their cameras on the Round Tower and Sky TV had their helicopter hovering over the harbour entrance. At some point I could hear bagpipes but never once did I see the source.
At this time Diamond was stationary, way over towards the Isle of Wight, while ferries and yachts hustled in and out of the harbour before all shipping movements were stopped. These two patrol craft came out to meet and escort Diamond in.
A number of tugs came out of the harbour, moved along parallel to the shore before turning about and coming to rest just off shore from where I was standing. These modern tugs can virtually turn on the spot and for a few minutes they pirouetted, performing a maritime ballet.
Eventually, the moment we had all been waiting for arrived. HMS Diamond made her way towards the harbour. The two patrol craft providing an escort. Two of the tugs also lined up, ready to salute HMS Diamond who had started her salute. In this photo you can just see the smoke created as she fired a broadside. I was rather hoping she was going to fire the 4.5″ gun on the bows but you can’t have everything.
Diamonds salute was answered by several shots fired by the folks at HMS Dolphin (Fort Blockhouse). That gun makes one hell of a bang and you can feel the shock wave as it hits you on its way across the water then again as it bounces off the “hot walls”. Once again the only visible indication is the smoke created by the firing.
As Diamond closed on the harbour entrance the tugs provided a salute of their own by creating water cascades.
As she was entering the narrows between the Round Tower and HMS Dolphin, a flight of helicopters in “diamond” formation overflew HMS Diamond along with an RAF Typhoon.
And finally the crew of HMS Diamond gave a rousing cheer easily heard by the watching crowds.
The end of the spectacle but a fitting start to the Queens Jubilee weekend.
I just love the rational irrationality of this.
Women help make history at Portsmouth Dockyard
I was an apprentice in Portsmouth Dockyard when the girls in the photograph joined. There used to be two entries a year and they were one or two behind my entry. I met them though, a few months after that photo. They came to the machine shop where I was on my second stint I believe.
Mary Bromley, Mary Malloy, Susan Wright, Vivien Hurage and Barbara Arnold. I wonder where they are now ?
How many of them completed the apprenticeship and how many continued along their chosen career path at the end of training ?
If anyone knows, please let me know.
Women help make history at Portsmouth Dockyard – Remember When – Portsmouth News.
Fury as lorries park up in lane as work on new estate begins
Do you suppose the developers and planners factor in the misery that residents have to endure when a new development gets underway ?
The additional noise levels, the additional traffic, the dirt and dust that finds its way inside your house and the dirt and mud that is spread along the adjacent roads.
Its a fact of life that you have to consider if you move into a house on an incomplete development.
Its a totally alien concept if you happen to be living in an established environment.
Perhaps there should be a form of compensation that is paid to locals whose lives are disrupted for the duration of the development. A sliding scale based on proximity to the centre point of the development with additional payments based on your living on the main access route. This payment would be funded by the CIL (Community Infrastructure Levy) charged on new development land.
Somehow I can’t see that idea catching on anytime soon.
Fury as lorries park up in lane as work on new estate begins – Environment – Portsmouth News.
Plumbing New Depths
Received an e-mail with the following photo’s attached. The e-mail claims that they are from Mexico.
Wherever, I don’t feel quite so bad about my own DIY plumbing results.
Anyone out there have any evidence of more outrageous installations ?
Local Forums looking into community bid for South Parade Pier
I should like to wish the Eastney Neighbourhood Forum, and the East Southsea Neighbourhood Forum, the best of luck with their proposed bid to raise funds to enable them to take over the ownership and running of South Parade Pier.
Per my previous post and previous articles in The News, the pier is in dire need of some TLC and some innovative management to make it a viable and profitable business.
Forum looking into community bid for South Parade Pier – Environment – Portsmouth News.
View From The Conservatory
Today the post is more of a View In The Conservatory.
Over the last few days, with the glorious weather that we have been “suffering” (tongue firmly in cheek), the temperatures have been as high as 41 degrees. While that is far, far too high for a wilting pansy such as myself there has been at least one plant that likes the conditions.
We have three orchids that we have, so far, failed to kill following their initial blooming. In fact we one plant with two fresh shoots growing rapidly and we have this one which is just gorgeous.
You can see why I have entitled the photo “Pretty Maids All In A Row”.
WrAnTz 